Job 27

1 Job replied again [to his three friends],

And Job continued taking up his parable, and said,

2 “Almighty God has refused to treat me justly/fairly. He has caused me to feel bitter/resentful. But [just as surely] as he lives,

As God liveth, who hath removed justice from me; and by the Almighty, who hath embittered my soul:

3 as long as God’s Spirit enables me to breathe,

All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;

4 I will not lie; I [SYN] will not say anything to deceive anyone.

Shall my lips not speak any wrong, nor shall my tongue utter deceit.

5 I will never admit that what you [three] have said is true; until the day that I die, I will insist that I have not done things that are wrong.

Far be it from me that I should justify you; till I depart hence will I not allow [any one] to take my integrity away from me.

6 I will say that I am innocent, and never (say anything different/change what I say); my conscience will never reproach me as long as I live.

I have laid fast hold on my righteousness, and I will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me [for my conduct] during all my life.

7 “I want my enemies to be [punished] like all wicked [people are punished]; I want [God to punish] those who oppose me like [he punishes all] unrighteous [people].

Like the wicked is [therefore] my enemy, and he that riseth up against me like a wrong-doer.

8 When [it is time for] God [to] get rid of godless/wicked people and [to] cause them to die, there is absolutely nothing good [RHQ] that they can confidently expect [to happen to them].

For what is the hope of the hypocrite, when he hath gained unjust wealth, when God casteth forth his soul?

9 When they experience troubles, (will God hear them call [out to him for help]?/God certainly will not hear them call out [to him for help].) [RHQ]

Will God hear his cry, when distress cometh upon him?

10 (Will they be happy about what Almighty [God] does?/They certainly will not be happy about what Almighty [God] does.) [RHQ] (Will they [begin to] pray to him frequently?/They certainly will not [begin to] pray to him frequently.) [RHQ] [Certainly not!]

Or can he find delight in the Almighty? can he call on God at all times?

11 “I will teach you [three] something about the power [MTY] of Almighty God [MTY]; I will reveal what he is thinking.

I will instruct you concerning what is in the hand of God: [the way] which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.

12 But you [three] have seen for yourselves [what God has done]; so (why are you saying such nonsense?/you should not be saying such nonsense.) [RHQ]

Lo! ye yourselves have all beheld it: why is it then that ye deal in such vanities?

13 “[I will tell you] what Almighty God does to wicked people, the things that he does to people who oppress others.

This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the portion of tyrants, which they shall receive from the Almighty.

14 [Even] if they have many children, [many of] those children will die in wars [MTY], and their [other] children will [die because they do] not have enough food to eat.

If his children be multiplied, it is only for the sword; and his offspring will not be satisfied with bread.

15 Their children who are still alive will die from diseases, and their widows will not [even] mourn for them.

Those of his that are left to escape will be buried by death; and his widows will not be able to weep.

16 Sometimes [wicked people] accumulate a huge amount [SIM] of silver and pile up clothes like [SIM] those clothes were a pile of clay,

Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare garments [as plentifully] as the clay:

17 but [those wicked people will die, and then] righteous people will wear those clothes, and honest/innocent people will get their silver and divide it [among themselves].

He may prepare, but the righteous will clothe himself [therewith], and the silver the innocent will divide.

18 The houses that they build are [as frail/fragile] as [SIM] spider webs, or they are like flimsy huts that watchmen live in [while they guard people’s fields].

He buildeth his house like the moth, and like a hut that a keeper hath made.

19 Wicked people are rich when they lie down [at night], but when they wake up [in the morning, they find out that] their money has disappeared.

Rich will he lie down, but will not be gathered [into the grave]: one openeth his eyes, and he is no more.

20 “Things that terrify them [PRS] strike them like a flood [SIM]; during the night a whirlwind carries them away.

Like a flood will terror overtake him, in the night a tempest will steal him away.

21 [It is as though] the wind from the east picks them up and carries them away from their homes, and they disappear.

The east wind will lift him up, and he must be gone; and it hurleth him like a storm out of his place.

22 That wind strikes them without pitying them while they are running away, trying to escape from its force/power [MTY].

And [God] will cast [evil] upon him, and bare no pity: out of his hand [his wealth] will surely escape.

23 That wind [is like someone] clapping his hands [MET] at them [to ridicule them], howling at them wherever they run to.”

Men will clap their hands over him, and will hiss after him out of his place.